If you ever watch any run downs of the hundred or so greatest scary moments or films, this great grandaddy of the slasher/psychological thriller genre, from one of the all time great directors, Alfred Hitchcock, will always make it into the top ten, or at the very least the top twenty. Even today it doesn't look particularly dated, and still manages to entertain me like no other film every time i watch it. Janet Leigh plays the lovely Marion Crane who after stealing forty thousand pounds from her boss, goes on the run and eventually ends up staying the night in a secluded motel run by Norman Bates, a nice man (at first) who lives alone with his mother in a big old house. Meanwhile a private investigator who has been hired by Marion's boss to track down the money, arrives at the motel and after looking at the books finds that Marion did in fact stay there. However, not happy with the story that she left the next morning, the investigator goes back to the house to talk to Norman's mother who also spoke to Marion. When Lila, Marion's sister, and Sam Marion's boyfriend hear no word from the investigator, they decide to go down their themselves and find out why no one seems to be leaving the Bates Motel. Hitchcock insisted that audiences should only be allowed to see the film from the start. This was because the film was advertised as starring Janet Leigh, but her character, Marion, is killed in the first half of the film. Vera Miles plays Marion's sister Lila who accompanies Sam, Marion's boyfriend, played by John Gavin, to the Bates Motel in search of Marion and the private investigator. However, the real star of the show has to Anthony Perkins, who's stunning performance as the rather disturbed Norman Bates was amazing. He simply 'was' the character, and i think for many, always will be. Everything about this film has become a classic. The eerie score, originally conceived by Hitchcock and Joseph Stefano with a jazz score instead of Herrmann's miniature string orchestra. The 'nee nee nee nee' as the shower curtain is pulled back to reveal what appears to be a mad old woman with a knife. Even people who have not seen the film still do impressions of this in scary situations. The shower scene itself has also gone down in movie history, and at the time made many people scared of taking a shower. Overall, 'Psyco' really is an absolte classic in all respects and the great grandaddy of the slasher/psychological thriller genre. Is it Hitchcock's greatest moment? Well thats up to you, but i would be inclined to say yes. If you are a fan of Hitchcock, horror films, or just want somthing scary you on a saturday night, this comes highly recommended.Read full review
whatched this great thriller on dvd and it still works after nearly 50yrs.old hitch got this one blob on,right from the first scene in a hotel room in that hot town.a must dvd for any collection baz cheshire.
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